Self-releasing boat anchor



y 1961 c. M. DETRICK 2,985,132

SELF-RELEASING BOAT ANCHOR Filed Jan. 21, 1958 M nmmwo 6 /557227? M QEM/CZ INVENTOR.

SELF-RELEASING BOAT ANCHOR Chester M. Detrick, 2016 S. Chapel Ave. Alhambra, Calif.

Filed Jan. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 710,253

14 Claims. (Cl. 114208) This invention relates to boat anchors and more particularly to an improved self-releasing, self-resetting anchor designed for automatically disengaging its hold on an obstacle as the tension on the anchor line exceeds a predetermined value so that the anchor may bypass the obstacle after which the anchor flukes rwime their normal holding positions.

It is a common experience for boat owners to lose anchors particularly when anchored in small streams and lakes where tree roots, large rocks, and other obstacles are likely to become firmly engaged with the flukes of an an chor. Attempts to release the anchor by maneuvering the boat and by the manipulation of the anchor line often prove futile and succeed only in increasing the entanglement of the anchor and lead to its loss. This is not only expensive but results in the boat being Without anchor means for the remainder of the cruise and until such time as a new anchor can be obtained.

Various attempts have been made by anchor designers to obviate the shortcomings of prior anchors as by the use of spring biased flukes. However, anchor designs embodying features heretofore proposed have been subject to various disadvantages and shortcomings to which the present anchor is not subject. For example, in one type of anchor there are provided spring biasing means which permit the flukes to pivot away from the shank to disengage an obstacle but lack any provision for returning the flukes to their normal holding position except by removing the anchor from the water and manually resetting the parts. Other designs include separate manually releasable latch means normally effective to lock the flukes in an extended holding position. The latch means includes a special release line operable, when manually pulled by someone in the boat, to release the latch and allow the flukes to pivot to a collapsed position. Thereafter the anchor must be removed from the water and manually relatched in open position before it is again usable as an anchor.

The present invention provides an anchor of simple, rugged construction, not subject to the foregoing disadvantages and including simple adjustable spring means normally effective to hold the flukes extended under a predetermined force. Should the flukes become ensnarled they are able to pivot rearwardly to bypass the obstacle upon the stressing of the anchor line beyond a predetermined value for which the spring is set. Irnmediately the anchor bypasses the obstacle, the spring is automatically effective to return the flukes to their normal holding position.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of simple means for normally locking the flukes folded outwardly away from the shank and in a proper anchor holding position. This locking means is movable along the shank to a position out of locking engagement with the flukes when it is desired to collapse the latter compactly against the shank of the anchor. Accordingly, when the anchor is not in use the flukes lie with their pointed ends folded compactly against the sides of the shank.

States Patent ice A further and an important feature of the invention is the effectiveness of the anchor of this invention to protect an anchored boat against serious damage and possible flooding as the result of a sudden rise in the surrounding water level. It has happened that such sudden rises cause the boat to be pulled beneath the surface with resultant serious consequences. With the present anchor, however, such abnormal rises in water level may result in the engaged fluke or flukes of the anchor being pivoted rearwardly to their released position thereby temporarily disengaging the anchor from the stream bed. As soon as the water level falls back to its normal level, the automatically restored flukes immediately re-engage the stream bed thereby automatically reanchoring the boat without action by or attention from an attendant.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved, self-releasing, self-resetting boat anchor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a boat anchor having at least one pivoted fluke and spring means so related as resiliently to hold the fluke in an extended anchor holding position but which allows the fluke to pivot rearwardly away from the shank to bypass an obstacle when the line stress exceeds a predetermined value.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible boat anchor having one or more flukes pivoted to one end of the shank and featuring latch means for normally holding the flukes extended and spring means which allow the flukes to pivot rearwardly when the load on the flukes imposed by an obstacle exceeds a predetermined value.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a self-releasing anchor having spring biased flukes normally held in an anchor holding position but pivotal rearwardly to bypass an obstacle after which the flukes are automatically reset in their normal anchor holding position.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

Figure l is a fragmentary view of an anchor incorporating the features of the present invention, portions thereof being shown in longitudinal sections and portions in side one fluke pivoted downwardly away from the shank, as

when bypassing an obstacle.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown an anchor designated generally 10 having a hollow tubular shank l1 closed at its upper end 12 and having an outwardly flanged lower end 13. An axial opening 14 through upper end 12 rotatably seats the shank 15 of an eye bolt assembly having a threaded lower end 16 extending through a threaded opening in a spring support disk 17. The midportion of shank 15 is provided. internally of shank 11 with a sleeve 18 co-a-cting with the upper end 12 of the shank to provide a stop. Mounted over the outer end of shank 15 and held assembled thereto by pin 19' is an eyelet 20 to which a suitable anchor line may be at tached. From the foregoing it will be clear that the eyebolt assembly may be freely rotated relative to the anchor shank to adjust the position of support disk 17 along thread 16 for the purpose of adjusting the effective pressure of a spring as will now be explained.

Supported within the lower end of shank .11 is a strong compression spring 22 having its upper end 23 extending through an opening in support disk 17. The lower end 2 4 of the spring seats in an opening on the inner end of a plunger 25 having a conical lower end 26 held firmly pressed by the spring against the inner end of a closure disk 27. This disk is held assembled to flange 13 of the shank by screws 28. Rotation of plunger 25 is safeguarded against in any suitable manner such as by a radially projecting stop pin 29 extending into slots 30 formed in the lower side wall of shank 11.

The means for pivotally supporting at least one, and preferably three flukes 32 at the lower end of the anchor shank comprises ears 33 preferably formed integral with shank 11 and flange 13. Ears 33 are arranged in pairs about the base of the anchor shank and are spaced apart sufiiciently to receive the inner ends 34 of fluke arm 32, these ends being pivotally secured to ears 33 by pivot pins 35. The inner ends of fluke arms 32 are formed with cammed surfaces 37 which converge to lie closely adjacent the conical surface 26 of plunger 25. Flange 13 and end closure 27 of the shank are provided with slots 38 through which the cammed ends 37 of the fluke arms pivot when the flukes are folded to their collapsed position against the shank of the anchor as is indicated by dot and dash lines in Figure 1.

The contour of the cooperating surfaces provided by cam 3'7 and by the surface ofv cone 26 of the plunger are important, it being understood that they are so designed as normally to hold flukes 32 in a desired extended position away from the anchor shank. Owing to the pressure exerted on cammed ends 37 of the flukes by spring 22 and plunger 25, it will be evident that the flukes cannot pivot rearwardly counterclockwise about pin 35 as viewed in Figure 1. Desirably the flukes should also be incapable of folding toward shank 11 since they are inoperative as an anchor when so folded. To prevent this possibility the flukes are provided with locking detents 33 so positioned relative to shank 11 when the flukes are in their normal extended position as to receive locking ring 40 freely movable along the anchor shank and held against disassembly therefrom as by a stop screw or pin 41. So long as the ring is seated as illustrated in Figure 1 it is pointed out that flukes 32 are locked against folding toward shank 11. However, such locking does not interfere with the rearward pivoting of the flukes about pins 35 in opposition to spring 22.

Flukes 32 may be constructed in any. desired manner. and are here shown as being T-shape in cross section and provided at their outer ends with a triangular shaped toe, 42 so disposed as to engage the bottom of a water bed in the usual manner.

When not in use the anchor flukes are folded against the shank, it first being necessary to slide locking ring. 4%) beyond the ends of detents 39. When so folded the anchor provides a very compact assembly for storage or packaging. To place the anchor in use the flukes are pivoted outwardly to their normal extended position and locked by allowing ring 40 to drop in place against detents 39. An anchor line is attached to eyelet 20 in the usual manner.

If one of the flukes should become entangled or. engaged behind an immovable obstacle from which the anchor cannot be disengaged, it is merely necessary to apply sufiicient tension to the anchor line to overcome the hold ing force of strong spring 22. When the anchor line is:

thus tensioned the engaged fluke or flukes pivot rearwardly away from the shank as the cammed end 37 of the fluke forces plunger 25 upwardly in opposition to the spring, such as to the position shown in Figure 3. In this position the fluke engages a stop 44 provided in end closure member. 27, this stop being so positioned that the cammed end 37 cannot pivot out of engagement Withthe inclined surface 26 of the plunger.

It will therefore be understood it is impossible to pivot the flukes to a posi:

normal holding position illustrated in Figure 1 immediately upon the obstacle being disengaged or bypassed. During the bypassing operation locking ring 4A} is held elevated by cammed surface 37 and in constant contact with the inner ends of the flukes. Upon disengagement of the obstacle the spring immediately returns the flukes to their normal position as locking ring 40 re-engages detents 39 to maintain the flukes in their extended operating position. For the reasons explained, the anchor may be disengaged repeatedly from obstacles without need for removing the anchor from the water or without performing any special operation other than applying sufficient tension on the anchor line to overcome the desired pre-set release tension on spring 22.

When it is desired to use the anchor in shallow ponds filled with brushes, weeds, lilies and the like or under conditions such that it is desirable for the anchor to release at a lower tension than in other locations, it is merely necessary to rotate eyelet assembly 15, 20 in a direction to decrease the compressive forces acting on spring 22 thereby providing the desired release force on flukes 32. By the same token if it is desired to increase the predetermined force at which the flukes pivot rearwardly, the eyelet assembly in rotated in the opposite direction to increase the loading on spring 22..

While the particular self-releasing, self-resetting boat anchor herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-releasing, self-resetting boat anchor comprising a rigid tubular shank, a plurality of flukes pivotally connected directly to one end of said tubular shank, coil spring means enclosed by and extending longitudinally of said shank with the lower end thereof bearing against the inner ends of said flukes and elfective normally to hold said flukes in an extended operating position lying at an obtuse angle relative to said shank and for allowing said flukes to pivot rearwardly away from said operating position to bypass an obstacle in response to the stressing of said anchor line beyond a predetermined load and for automatically returning said flukes to their normal holding position immediately after bypassing an obstacle, and means for attaching an anchor line to the other end of said shank independently of said spring means whereby the flukes pivot rearwardly in response to a predetermined applied load and without regard to the angle between the anchor line and the axis of said shank.

2. A boat anchor as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of rneans for adjusting the predetermined load stress at which said spring means allows said flukes to pivot away from said shank to bypass an obstacle.

3. A boat anchor as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of screw means operable from the exterior of said shank for adjusting the spring pressure normally holding said flukes inan open position at an angle to said shank.

4. A boat anchor as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of means for releasably locking said flukes against closing toward said shank so long as said anchor is supported by the anchor line.

5. A boat anchor as defined in claim 4 wherein said fluke locking means encircles said shank and is movable therealong between locking and non-locking positions relative to said flukes.

. 6. A self-releasing anchor for boats comprising a hollow shank having means at one end for attaching the same to an anchor line, at least one fluke pivotally supported at the other end of said shank for movement be tween an'inoperative position collapsed against said shank and a fully extended position substantially degrees therefrom, spring means enclosed by said shank having one end bearing against a stop and the other end bearing against reciprocable plunger means and urging the same away from the anchor line end of said shank, and cam means interposed between the pivoted end of said fluke and said plunger means effective to hold said fluke in a normal holding position intermediate said collapsed and said fully extended positions, and said cam means and said spring being operable to allow said fluke to pivot rearwardly from said shank sufliciently to bypass an obstacle as the load stress on the anchor line reaches a predetermined value, and movable stop means operable to hold said fluke against pivotal movement from said intermediate toward said collapsed position against the anchor shank, said stop means being shiftable out of holding position by inverting the position of said anchor and by the manual manipulation thereof.

7. A boat anchor as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said movable stop means comprises ring means slidable along said shank and cooperable with detent means on the pivoted end of said fluke for locking the latter in an extended position normally while leaving the fluke free to pivot rearwardly to bypass an obstacle.

8. A boat anchor as defined in claim 6 characterized in that said plunger means and said cam means are so shaped and arranged relative to said spring that the spring is effective in all rearward pivoted positions to urge the fluke back to its normal extended holding position once the fluke has bypassed an obstacle.

9. A self-releasing boat anchor comprising a hollow shank, threaded eye bolt means extending axially into said shank and rotatably secured to the end thereof, compression spring means having one end bearing against said eye bolt means, a plurality of flukes pivoted to the lower end of said shank and including cammed ends bearing against the adjacent lower end of said spring means, stop means limiting expansion of said spring means downward whereby said flukes are resiliently supported normally in an extended holding position, and said spring means being effective in cooperation with the cammed ends of said flukes to allow the same to pivot rearwardly as required to bypass an obstacle and thereafter returning the flukes to their normal holding position.

10. A boat anchor as defined in claim 9 characterized in that the eifective spring pressure on said flukes is adjustable by rotating said eye bolt to vary the length of said spring within said hollow shank, and means for holding said flukes against pivotal movement forwardly against the upper end of said shank.

11. A boat anchor comprising a shank having means at one end for attaching the same to an anchor line, a fluke including means for pivotally connecting the same to the other end of said shank for movement between a closed position against the side of said shank and an open position at an obtuse angle to the shank, and gravityresponsive ring-like means slidahle along the shank and cooperable with detent means carried by said fluke for holding the same locked against collapse to a non-operating position and compactly folded forwardly against said shank so long as said shank is supported in an upright position and being free to slide along said shank to unlock said fluke as said shank is inverted.

12. A self-releasing self-resetting boat anchor comprising a shank having at least one unitary one-piece fluke movably connected to one end thereof for pivoting movement through substantially separate right angles to either side of its normal operating position which position is generally perpendicular to the shank axis, coil spring means housed within said shank with one end bearing against the inner end of said fluke and eflective thereon to hold said fluke against rearward pivoting away from its said normal operating position and into an obstacle releasing position, releasable locking means for holding said fluke against pivotal movement away from its said normal operating position and forwardly toward a collapsed position close to said shank, and means for attaching an anchor line to said shank independently of said spring means whereby any change in the load on said spring means is applied thereto solely by reason of a load acting on said fluke.

13. An automatic self-releasing, self-resetting anchor for use with small boats comprising a tubular shank having at least one unitary one-piece fluke pivoted thereto for movement between a collapsed position against said shank, an extended operating position outstretched from said shank and an obstruction releasing position substantially degrees from said collapsed position, spring means carried within said shank having a movable end normally positioned to hold said fluke in said extended operating position while permitting said fluke to pivot rearwardly toward said obstruction release position when a force applied against the fluke exceeds a predetermined value, and means for connecting an anchor line directly to one end of said shank whereby tension applied to said anchor line is transmitted to said fluke by way of said shank and independently of said spring means.

14. An automatic self-releasing, self-resetting anchor assembly comprising an elongated hollow tubular shank substantially closed at its opposite ends, means for connecting an anchor line directly to the upper end of said shank, a plurality of one-piece flukes pivoted to said shank adjacent the lower end thereof and having inner ends movable in radial slots opening into the interior of said shank, plunger means movable axially within said shank, stiff spring means housed within said tubular shank and holding said plunger pressed against the interior lower end of the shank in the path of the inner ends of said flukes and cooperable therewith to hold said flukes pivoted to the extended operating position thereof, rigid means for holding said flukes pivoted outwardly away from a collapsed positionagainst said shank, said anchor assembly being releasable from an obstruction by a pull applied along said anchor line and through said shank to the flukes independently of said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,761 Cummings Ian. 28, 1908 1,782,449 Siebert Nov. 25, 1930 2,476,348 Alvik July 19, 1949 2,690,153 Ewbank et a1. Sept. 28, 1954 2,847,963 Knitter Aug. 19, 1958 2,874,668 Bailey Feb. 24, 1959 2,887,980 Madden May 26, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 79,141 Sweden Sept. 9, 1931 

